Cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical composition containing a dispersion of lipid vesicles, process for the preparation of the said dispersion and dispersion of lipid vesicles

ABSTRACT

A composition comprises in an aqueous dispersion phase, a dispersion of lipid vesicles that encapsulate an aqueous phase. The lipid vesicles are a lipid phase containing an ionic amphiphilic lipid or a nonionic amphiphilic lipid, or a mixture thereof, together with a compound having the formula ##STR1## represents --CH 2  OH, --COOM or --(CH 2 ) 2  --COOM, wherein M represents H, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal and X, Y, Z and V, each independently, represent hydrogen or hydroxyl, with the proviso that when W represents --CH 2  OH at least one of X, Y, Z or V represents hydroxyl, or (b) W represents --CH 3  and X, Y, Z and V represent H or OH combined as shown in each line of the table below: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
 
    
     X            Y      Z         V                                           
______________________________________                                    
OH           OH     OH        OH                                          
OH           H      OH        OH                                          
OH           OH     OH        H                                           
H            OH     OH        OH                                          
H            OH     OH        H                                           
H            H      OH        OH                                          
OH           H      OH        H                                           
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The present invention relates to a cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical composition containing a transparent dispersion of ionic and/or nonionic amphiphilic lipid vesicles, to a process for the preparation of said dispersion and to a new dispersion used in the said composition.

It is known that it is possible to prepare vesicles from certain amphiphilic lipids, that is to say from molecules consisting of a lipophilic part and of a hydrophilic part. The vesicles obtained are delimited by a lipid phase membrane formed from a sheet or a number of concentric sheets, the said membrane defining a closed internal volume where a phase, known as encapsulated phase, is encapsulated. The vesicles are generally prepared in the form of a dispersion in an aqueous phase, known as the dispersion phase. The amphiphilic lipids can be ionic lipids such as natural lecithins (egg lecithin, soya lecithin) or synthetic lecithins (dipalmitoyllecithin, hydrogenated egg lecithin). The amphiphilic lipids can also be nonionic lipids such as linear or branched polyglycerol derivatives, linear or branched polyglycerol ethers, polyoxyethylenated fatty alcohols, polyoxyl-ethylenated sterols, polyol ethers, oxyethylenated or nonoxyethylenated polyol esters, glycol lipids, certain hydroxyamides and others.

The lipid phase can contain one or a number of ionic amphiphilic lipids, one or a number of nonionic amphiphilic lipids or, at the same time, at least one ionic amphiphilic lipid and at least one nonionic amphiphilic lipid.

It is known to introduce into the lipid phase at least one lipophilic cosmetically and/or pharmaceutically active principle, the nature and the amount of the reactants introduced being chosen so as not to damage the stability of the vesicles. It is also possible, in a known way, to introduce hydrophilic active principles into the encapsulated aqueous phase and/or into the aqueous dispersion phase.

For reasons of presentation, the search is to prepare dispersions of vesicles which are substantially transparent, because the cosmetic compositions prepared from transparent dispersions have a more pleasant and more attractive appearance for the user.

The transparency (or, conversely, the opaqueness) of a dispersion, with respect to natural light, is essentially a function of the refractive index of the dispersion medium and of that of the dispersion particles, of the concentration, of the mean size and of the size homogeneity of these particles. It is especially possible to increase the transparency of a dispersion by reducing the difference between the refractive index of the dispersed particles and that of the dispersion medium and/or by reducing the concentration and/or the size of the dispersed particles. Of course, it is possible to improve the transparency of a dispersion of lipid vesicles by diluting this dispersion but the concentration of active principles in the dispersion would thus be reduced, which generally has to be avoided. It has also been attempted to reduce the mean size of the vesicles, but it is then necessary to use, for an excessively long time, during the preparation of the vesicles, powerful mechanical means such as pressure homogenizers or ultrasound, which leads to a higher cost price. It was also considered to reduce the polydispersity by using grading methods such as pressure filtration or size fractionation using chromatography columns, but these methods are restricting and expensive.

According to the present invention, it was found that the transparency of dispersions of vesicles in which the lipid phase contains at least one ionic amphiphilic lipid and/or at least one nonionic amphiphilic lipid is considerably improved by introducing, into the said lipid phase, at least one polyol or one isoprenoic acid containing a phytyl chain, without it being necessary to modify the method of preparation of the vesicles. It was observed that even dispersions having a high lipid concentration, for example a concentration greater than 5% by weight, are then substantially transparent.

The first subject of the present invention is thus a cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical composition containing at least one dispersion, in an aqueous dispersion phase, of vesicles delimited by a lipid phase membrane containing at least one ionic amphiphilic lipid and/or at least one nonionic amphiphilic lipid, the said vesicles containing an encapsulated phase, characterized in that, in at least one dispersion, the lipid phase contains at least one compound of formula ##STR2## in which formula (I): either W represents --CH₂ OH, --COOM or --(CH₂)₂ --COOM, where M represents H, an alkali metal or an alkaline-earth metal, in which case X, Y, Z and V, which are identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl radical, with the condition that, when W represents the --CH₂ OH group, at least one of the radicals X, Y, Z or V represents a hydroxyl radical;

or else W represents the --CH₃ group, in which case X, Y, Z and V represent H or --OH combined as shown in each line of the table below:

    ______________________________________                                         X            Y      Z         V                                                ______________________________________                                         OH           OH     OH        OH                                               OH           H      OH        OH                                               OH           OH     OH        H                                                H            OH     OH        OH                                               H            OH     OH        H                                                H            H      OH        OH                                               OH           H      OH        H                                                ______________________________________                                    

The compounds of formula (I), which are preferred, are phytanetriol or 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-1,2,3-trihydroxyhexadecane, 5,9,13,17-tetramethyloctadecanoic acid or the tetrols such as 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxyhexadecane or 3-hydroxymethyl-7,11,15-trimethyl-1,2,4-trihydroxyhexadecane obtained as by-products in the synthesis of phytanetriol by oxidation of phytol with hydrogen peroxide.

As explained above, the first advantage of the dispersions of the composition according to the invention is that these dispersions are transparent, even for high lipid concentrations.

Moreover, it was observed that, in the case of the preparation of certain vesicles, the introduction of at least one compound of formula (I) into the lipid phase made it possible to reduce or eliminate cholesterol, which is commonly used as constituent lipid of the wall of the vesicles, with the aim of stabilizing the vesicles. The replacement of cholesterol by a (some) compound(s) of formula (I) is of substantial advantage because the compounds of formula (I) are very difficult to oxidize, whereas cholesterol oxidizes relatively easily giving undesirable oxidation products. Moreover, the dispersions used according to the invention are generally obtained directly with a low polydispersity index without it being necessary, during their preparation, to resort to an expensive fractionation. Finally, it was observed that the topical application of certain of the dispersions makes it possible to reduce the modulus of elasticity of the stratum corneum, which is very particularly advantageous in cosmetics.

The compounds of formula (I) are known compounds (see, for example, "Progress in the chemistry of fats and other lipids", Volume XIV, Part 1, pages 5 to 44, Ak Lough, Editor Ralph T. Holman, Pergamon Press). It is known, by an article by Yue et al. (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, Vol. 1047, No. 1, pages 1-102), to prepare a dispersion of vesicles from a lipid phase containing phospholipids, in particular dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, and phytanic acid in order to study the influence of phytanic acid on the phospholipid layer, by nuclear magnetic resonance. This study shows that the presence of phytanic acid in the vesicle membrane causes a reorientation of the phospholipid layers in the magnetic field. According to an article by R. J. Cushley et al. (Can. J. of Chemistry, Vol. 55, 1977, pages 220-226), the introduction of phytanic acid into the lipid phase of lecithin vesicles would greatly destabilize the structure of the vesicle membrane. It has also been proposed to use phytanetriol in cosmetics (see CH-A 399,655, JP-A 63/5050 and JP-A 86/236,737).

However, until the present, the use of a vesicle dispersion containing compounds of formula I in cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical compositions has never been proposed and nothing could suggest to a person skilled in the art the specific advantages of such a use, in particular that the dispersions obtained would be transparent.

In the lipid phase constituting the membrane of the vesicles, the compounds of formula (I) represent, by weight, from 5 to 90%, and preferably from 10 to 60%, of the lipid phase. For amounts below 5%, there is no significant improvement in the transparency. For amounts greater than 90%, the vesicles obtained are no longer stable enough.

The constituent lipid phase of the membranes of the vesicles of the dispersion according to the invention can comprise, in a known way, at least one lipid chosen from the group formed by:

A) the nonionic lipids defined below:

(1) the linear or branched glycerol derivatives of formula ##STR3## in which formula (II):

    --C.sub.3 H.sub.5 (OH)O--

is represented by the following structures taken as mixtures or separately: ##STR4## n is a mean statistical value between 1 and 6 or else n=1 or 2 and then --C₃ H₅ (OH)O-- is represented by the structure --CH₂ CHOH--CH₂ O--;

R₀ represents:

(a) a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, aliphatic chain containing from 12 to 30 carbon atoms; or hydrocarbon radicals from lanolin alcohols; or the residues of long-chain alpha-diols;

(b) a residue R₁ CO, where R₁ is a linear or branched, C₁₁ -C₂₉ aliphatic radical;

(c) a residue ##STR5## where: R₂ can take the meaning (a) or (b) given for R₀ ;

--OC₂ H₃ (R₃)-- is represented by the following structures, taken as a mixture or separately: ##STR6## where R₃ takes the meaning (a) given for R₀ ;

(2) the linear or branched polyglycerol ethers containing two fatty chains;

(3) the diols containing a fatty chain;

(4) the oxyethylenated or nonoxyethylenated fatty alcohols, or the oxyethylenated or nonoxyethylenated phytosterols or sterols, such as, for example, cholesterol;

(5) the oxyethylenated or nonoxyethylenated ethers and esters of polyols, it being possible for the ethylene oxide chain to be linear or cyclic;

(6) the glycolipids of natural or synthetic origin, the ethers and esters of mono- or polysaccharides and especially the ethers and the esters of glucose;

(7) the hydroxyamides described in French Patent No. 2,588,256 and represented by the formula: ##STR7## in which formula (III): R₄ denotes a C₇ -C₂₁ alkyl or alkenyl radical;

R₅ denotes a saturated or unsaturated C₇ -C₃₁ hydrocarbon radical;

COA denotes a group chosen from the two following groups:

a residue ##STR8## where: B is an alkyl radical derived from mono- or polyhydroxylated, primary or secondary amines; and

R₆ denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl, ethyl or hydroxyethyl radical; and a residue --COOZ, where Z represents the residue of a C₃ -C₇ polyol.

(8) the natural or synthetic ceramides;

(9) the oxyethylenated fatty amines or dihydroxyalkylamines;

(10) the glycerol derivatives described in Patent Application PCT No. 91/00889 filed on 13 Nov. 1991 and corresponding to the formula: ##STR9## in which formula (IV) R₇ represents a linear C₁₄ to C₁₈ alkyl radical or a group --CH₂ A in which A is --OR₁₄, R₁₄ representing a linear C₁₀ -C₁₈ alkyl radical and, preferably, a linear C₁₆ alkyl radical, and n represents a mean statistical value greater than 1 and at most equal to 3 and, additionally, when R₇ =--CH₂ A, n can also represent a true value (non-statistical) equal to 2.

B) the ionic amphiphilic lipids defined below:

(1) the anionic amphiphilic lipids such as:

the natural phospholipids, especially egg or soya lecithin, or sphingomyelin, the phospholipids modified chemically or enzymatically, especially hydrogenated lecithin, and the synthetic phospholipids, especially dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine;

anionic compounds, such as those described in French Patent No. 2,588,256 and represented by the formula ##STR10## in which formula (V): R₈ represents a C₇ -C₂₁ alkyl or alkenyl radical,

R₉ represents a saturated or unsaturated C₇ -C₃₁ hydrocarbon radical, and

M₁ represents H, Na, K, NH₄ or a substituted ammonium ion derived from an amine,

(2) anionic compounds, such as the phosphoric esters of fatty alcohols, for example dicetyl phosphate and dimyristyl phosphate in the form of acids or of alkaline salts; heptylnonylbenzenesulfonic acid; cholesterol acid sulfate and its alkaline salts and cholesterol acid phosphate and its alkaline salts; lysolecithins; alkyl sulfates, for example sodium cetyl sulfate; gangliosides;

(3) the cationic amphiphilic lipids, such as:

the quaternary ammonium derived cationic compounds corresponding to the formula: ##STR11## with R₁₀ and R₁₁, which are identical or different, representing C₁₂ -C₂₀ alkyl radicals and R₁₂ and R₁₃, which are identical or different, C₁ -C₄ alkyl radicals;

the long-chain amines and their quaternary ammonium derivatives, and the long-chain amino alcohol esters and their salts and quaternary ammonium derivatives;

polymerizable lipids, such as those described by Ringsdorf and others in "Angewandte Chemie", Vol. 27, No. 1, January 1988, pages 129 and 137.

The amphiphilic lipids used together represent preferably from 10 to 95%, more particularly from 40 to 90%, of the total weight of the vesicular lipid phase.

Non-lipid additives such as certain polymers, such as, for example, polypeptides and proteins, can be added to the lipid phase constituting the wall of the vesicles.

The aqueous dispersion phase according to the invention can consist of water, or a mixture of water and at least one water-miscible solvent such as C₁ -C₇ alcohols and C₁ -C₅ alkyl polyols. The aqueous dispersion phase can also contain compounds in solution, such as sugars, organic or inorganic salts or polymers insofar as they do not modify or only slightly modify the transparency of the dispersion.

The total lipid phase concentration in the dispersion is between 0.01% and 50% by weight, preferably between 1% and 20% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the dispersion. The dispersed vesicles have sizes between 20 and 3000 nm, preferably between 20 and 500 nm.

The compositions according to the invention can be used even in the absence of any active principle, as cosmetic products for skin treatment. It has especially been observed that, when the compound of formula (I) is phytanetriol, topical application of the composition makes it possible to reduce the modulus of elasticity of the stratum corneum.

However, the compositions according to the invention can also contain at least one active principle having cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical action.

In a known way, it is possible to introduce into the lipid phase of the vesicles of the dispersion at least one cosmetically and/or pharmaceutically active liposoluble compound. According to the invention, it is possible to use any liposoluble active principle insofar as it is compatible with the compounds of formula (I) used and insofar as it does not modify in a harmful way the transparency of the compositions. Among the latter, there may be mentioned as non-limiting examples: retinoic acid, lipoprotides and steroids.

The phase encapsulated in the vesicles is generally an aqueous phase. In a known way, water-soluble active principles can be introduced into the encapsulated phase and/or into the dispersion phase. Very many compounds of this type have been mentioned in the literature. Among the latter, there may be mentioned as non-limiting examples: glycerol, sorbitol, erythrulose and antibiotics.

Amphiphilic active principles can also be distributed between the encapsulated and/or dispersion aqueous phase and the lipid phase of the vesicles.

A list of the active principles which can be used in the compositions according to the invention is given in Table I below:

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         FUNCTION ACTIVE AGENTS WHICH ARE USABLE                                        ______________________________________                                         Antioxi- The extracts of the following plants:                                 dant     Hawthorn.                                                             or anti- Ginkgo biloba.                                                        free-    Green tea.                                                            radicals Vine.                                                                          Rosemary.                                                                      Enzymes:                                                                       Marketed by SEDERMA under the name SB 12,                                      and consisting of a mixture of lactoferrin and                                 lactoperoxidase, glucose oxidase and potassium                                 thiocyanate.                                                                   Superoxide dismutase.                                                          Glutathione peroxidase.                                                        Superphycodismutase extracted from algae.                                      Coenzymes Q, especially coenzyme Q10.                                          Sequestering agents, especially polyphosphonic                                 acid derivatives.                                                              Tannins.                                                                       Selenium and its derivatives, especially seleno                                methionine.                                                                    Peptides, for example a mixture of spleen and                                  thymus extracts, Thiolim and unstabilized bovine                               serum albumin.                                                                 Proteins, for example hemocyanin, which is a                                   copper-containing protein extracted from marine                                snails, and apohemocyanin, which is a similar                                  protein without copper.                                                        Flavonoids, in particular catechin, proantho-                                  cyanidins, flavanols, flavones, isoflavones,                                   flavanenols, flavanones, flavanes and chalcones.                               Carotenoids, in particular β-carotene and annatto.                        Sorbohydroxyamic acid.                                                         Tocopherols, in particular alpha-tocopherol and                                alpha-tocopherol acetate.                                                      Ascorbyl palmitate.                                                            Propyl gallate.                                                                Caffeic acid and its derivatives.                                              Ascorbic acid.                                                                 Homogentisic acid.                                                             Erythorbic acid.                                                               Nordihydroguaiacetic [sic] acid.                                               Lysine laurylmethionate.                                                       Butylated hydroxyanisole.                                                      Butylated hydroxytoluene.                                                      "SOD-like" substances.                                                Hydrating                                                                               A reconstitution of sweat ("Normal moisturizing                       NMF).    factors"                                                              humectant                                                                               Sodium pyroglutamate.                                                          Hyaluronic acid.                                                               Chitosan derivatives (carboxymethylchitin).                                    β-Glycerophosphate.                                                       Lactamide.                                                                     Acetamide.                                                                     Ethyl, sodium and triethanolamine lactates.                                    Metal pyrrolidonecarboxylates, especially those of                             Mg, Zn, Fe, Ca or Na.                                                          Thiamorpholinone.                                                              Orotic acid.                                                                   alpha-hydroxylated C.sub.3 to C.sub.20 carboxylic acids, in                    particular alpha-hydroxypropionic acid.                                        Polyols, in particular inositol, glycerol,                                     diglycerol, sorbitol.                                                          Polyol glycosides, in particular alginate and guar.                            Proteins, in particular gelatin and soluble                                    collagen.                                                                      Lipoprotides chosen from mono- or polyacylated                                 derivatives of amino acids or of polypeptides in                               which the acid residue RCO contains a C.sub.13 --C.sub.19                      hydrocarbon chain, in particular palmitoylcaseinic                             acid, palmitoylcollagenic acid, the O,N-dipalm-                                itoyl derivative of hydroxyproline, sodium                                     stearoylglutamate, collagen stearoyl tripeptide,                               collagen oleyl tetra- and pentapeptide, hydroxy-                               proline linoleate.                                                             Urea and its derivatives, in particular methylurea.                            Skin tissue extract, in particular that marketed by                            Laboratoires Serobiologiques de Nancy (LSN) under                              the name "OSMODYN" and containing peptides,                                    amino acids, saccharides and 17% of mannitol.                                  More especially, a combination of glycerol, urea and                           palmitoylcaseinic acid.                                               Melanore-                                                                               Bergamot and citrus oils.                                             gulator: alpha-MSH and its synthetic homologues.                               1)  suntan   Caffeine.                                                             accele   Tyrosine derivatives, in particular glucose                           rator    tyrosinate and N-malyltyrosine.                                   2)  Depig-   Ascorbic acid or vitamin C and its derivatives, in                    menting  particular Mg ascorbyl phosphate.                                          Hydroxy acids, in particular glycolic acid.                                    Kojic acid.                                                                    Arbutin and its derivatives.                                                   Hemocyanin (copper-containing protein of the                                   marine snail) and apohemocyanin (protein similar                               to the above without copper).                                                  Hydroquinone and its derivatives, in particular the                            monoalkyl ether and the benzyl ether                                  Skin     ortho-Diacetylbenzene.                                                color-   Indoles.                                                              ation    Dihydroxyacetone.                                                     (artifi- Erythrulose.                                                          cial     Glyceraldehyde.                                                       suntan)  gamma-Dialdehydes, in particular tartraldehyde.                       Liporegu-                                                                               Complexes of vitamins and trace elements, in                          lators   particular the vitamin B.sub.6 /zinc complex.                         (slimming                                                                               Orizanol.                                                             and anti-                                                                               Azelaic acid.                                                         acne,    Xanthines and alkylxanthines, in particular                           anti-    extract of cola, caffeine and theophylline.                           seborr-  Cyclic and acyclic adenosine monophosphate.                           hea)     Adenosine triphosphate.                                                        Ivy extract.                                                                   Horse chestnut extract.                                                        Extracts of algae, in particular extract of red                                algae (Fucus serratus) and cytofiltrate.                                       Ginseng extract.                                                               Centella asiatica extract (asiaticoside) containing                            genin and asiatic acid.                                                        Thioxolone (HBT).                                                              S-Carboxymethylcysteine.                                                       S-Benzylcysteamine.                                                   Anti-ageing                                                                             Unsaponifiables, for example of soya bean and                         and anti-                                                                               avocado.                                                              wrinkle  Unsaturated fatty acids, in particular linoleic                                acid and linolenic acid.                                                       Hydroxy acids, in particular glycolic acid.                                    Growth factors.                                                                Trace element/vitamin complexes, in particular                                 B.sub.6 /Zn.                                                                   5-n-Octanoylsalicylic acid.                                                    Adenosine.                                                                     Retinol and its derivatives, in particular retinol                             acetate and retinol palmitate.                                                 Retinoids, in particular cis- or trans-retinoic                                acids and those described in Patents                                           FR-A-2,570,377; EP-A-199,636; and EP-A-325,540                                 and European Patent Application 90-402072.                                     Combination of retinoids and xanthines.                                        Hydroxyproline.                                                                Sialic acids.                                                                  The unstabilized extract of spleen, of thymus,                                 Thiolim and bovine serum albumin sold by the                                   company "SILAB" under the trade name "SILAB".                                  An animal placental extract, in particular 5.5%                                bovine placental embryonic extract in water,                                   stabilized with 0.2% of exyl K100a (matrix).                                   Proteoglycans, especially stabilized 5% bovine                                 tracheal cartilage proteoglycan (proteodermin).                                Colostrum.                                                                     Cell oxygenation factors, in particular                                        octacosamol.                                                          Anti-UV  UV screening agents, in particular 2-ethylhexyl                                para-methoxycinnamate;                                                         benzophenone,                                                                  benzylidenecamphor and their derivatives,                                      especially 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone                                  and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulphonic                                acid;                                                                          para-aminobenzoic acid,                                                        dipropylene glycol salicylate,                                                 octyl salicylate,                                                              the dibenzoylmethane derivatives sold under the                                brand names EUSOLEX 8020 or PARSOL 1789                                        and the products sold under the brand names                                    EUSOLEX 232, UNIVUL T 150,                                                     UNIVUL N 539, ESCALOL 507.                                            Keratolytic                                                                             Salicylic acid and its derivatives such as                                     alkylsalicylic acids, in particular 5-n-                                       octanoyl- and 5-n-dodecanoylsalicylic acids,                                   N-hexadecylpyridinium salicylate.                                              Retinoic acid.                                                                 Proteolytic enzymes, in particular trypsin,                                    alpha-chymotrypsin, papain, bromelain and pepsin.                              Benzoyl peroxide.                                                              Urea.                                                                          alpha-Hydroxy acids.                                                  Emollient                                                                               Esters such as isopropyl adipate.                                     Anti-    Corticoids such as β-methasone 17-acetate,                       inflamma-                                                                               indomethacin, ketoprofen, flufenamic acid,                            tory     ibuprofen, dichlofenac [sic], diflunisal,                                      fenclofenac, naproxen, piroxidam [sic] and                                     sulindac.                                                                      Glycerol monostearyl ether (batyl alcohol) and                                 glycerol monocetyl ether (chimyl alcohol).                                     Glycyrrhetinic acid and its salts, in particular                               the ammonium salt.                                                             alpha-Bisabolol (camomile extract).                                            Shikonin.                                                                      Extracts of plants such as arnica, aloe, cornflower                            water.                                                                         Extracts of meristematic tissue, in particular                                 oak root extract.                                                              Plankton.                                                             Cooling  Menthol.                                                                       Menthyl lactate.                                                      Cicatrizing                                                                             Skin tree, mimosa tenui flora extract.                                         Centella asiatica extract.                                                     β-Glycyrrhetinic acid.                                                    Hydroxyproline.                                                                Arginine.                                                                      A placental extract.                                                           A yeast extract.                                                               Fagaramide.                                                                    N-Acetylhydroxyproline.                                                        Acexamic acid and its derivatives.                                    Vasopro- Flavonoids, in particular rutin derivatives such                      tective  as etoxazorutin and sodium rutin propylsul-                                    phonate.                                                                       Plant extracts, in particular Ginkgo biloba oily                               extract and extract of horse chestnut (escin),                                 of ivy (saponins) and of butcher's broom.                                      alpha-Tocopherol nicotinate.                                          Anti-    Trimethylcetylammonium bromide.                                       bacterial,                                                                              Sorbic acid.                                                          antifungal                                                                              Benzoyl peroxide.                                                              Cetylpyridinium chloride.                                                      Benzalkonium chloride.                                                         para-Hydroxybenzoic acid and its salts.                                        2-Bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol.                                               3,4,4'-Trichlorocarbanilide.                                                   2,4,4'-Trichloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether.                                      Dehydroacetic acid.                                                            A grapefruit extract in glycerol and propylene                                 glycol.                                                                        Chlorhexidine.                                                                 Hexetidine.                                                                    Hexamidine.                                                           Insect-  Dimethyltoluamide.                                                    repellent                                                                      agent                                                                          Antiper- Aluminum chlorohydrate.                                               spirant  Aluminum chloride.                                                             Sodium lactate/aluminum chlorohydroxy complex.                                 Zirconyl chlorohydrate.                                               Deodorant                                                                               Zinc oxide.                                                                    Zinc ricinoleate.                                                              2-Ethyl-1,3-hexanediol.                                                        Hexachlorophene.                                                               The product sold under the brand name                                          "IRGASAN DP 300".                                                     Antidand-                                                                               Octopyrox.                                                            ruff     Omadines.                                                                      Coal tar.                                                                      1-Hydroxy-4-methyl-2,4,4-trimethyl-6-                                          pentyl-2-pyridinone [sic].                                                     Selenium sulphide.                                                    Anti-hair                                                                               Glucuronidase inhibitors.                                             loss     Muccopolysaccharides [sic].                                                    Methyl or hexyl nicotinate.                                                    Forskolin.                                                                     Minoxidil.                                                                     Xanthines.                                                                     Retinoids.                                                            Hair     Oxidation bases and couplers.                                         colorant Direct dyes.                                                                   Self-oxidizing dyes.                                                  Hair     Hydrogen peroxide.                                                    bleaching                                                                      agent                                                                          Reducing Thioglycolic acid.                                                    agent for                                                                               Cysteine.                                                             permanent-                                                                              Cysteamine.                                                           waving   N-Acetylcysteine.                                                              N-Acetylcysteamine.                                                            Glycerol thioglycolate.                                               Skin and Cationic polymers, cations.                                           hair                                                                           condition                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

The dispersions contained in the compostions according to the invention can be prepared by any known method of preparation for the preparation of amphiphilic lipid vesicles. Various modes of preparation are, for example, described in "Les liposomes en biologie cellulaire et pharmacologie" [Liposomes in cell biology and pharmacology], INSERM Publications/John Libbey Emotext, 1987, pages 6 to 18.

The vesicle dispersions according to the invention are preferably prepared by the process described below:

in a first stage, the lipid phase is prepared before forming the vesicle membrane by dissolving amphiphilic lipid(s), compounds of formula (I) and, optionally, one (or a number of) liposoluble pharmaceutically and/or cosmetically active compound(s) in a solvent and the solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure;

in a second stage, the aqueous dispersion phase is added and the mixture is homogenized mechanically by shaking and/or ultrasound, to produce the vesicle dispersion.

Homogenization is carried out at a temperature between 10° C. and 120° C., preferably between 30° and 80° C.

The compositions according to the invention can be provided in the form of gels, lotions or serums by adding, in a known way, formulation additives which have neither their own cosmetic activity nor their own dermo-pharmaceutical activity to the aqueous dispersion phase. Among these additives, there may be mentioned gelling agents, polymers, preserving agents, dyes and fragrances.

Another subject of the present invention is certain vesicle dispersions used in the compositions, according to the invention, which are novel. Consequently, a subject of the present invention is the dispersions, in an aqueous dispersion phase, of vesicles delimited by a lipid phase membrane containing at least one ionic amphiphilic lipid and/or at least one nonionic amphiphilic lipid, the said vesicles containing an encapsulated phase, characterized in that the lipid phase contains at least one compound of formula: ##STR12## in which formula (I): either W represents --CH₂ OH, --COOM or --(CH₂)₂ --COOM, where M represents H, an alkali metal or an alkaline-earth metal, in which case X, Y, Z and V, which are identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl radical, with the condition that, when W represents --CH₂ OH or COOM, at least one of the radicals X, Y, Z or V represents a hydroxyl radical;

or else W represents a --CH₃ group, in which case X, Y, Z and V represent H or --OH combined as shown in each line of the table below:

    ______________________________________                                         X            Y      Z         V                                                ______________________________________                                         OH           OH     OH        OH                                               OH           H      OH        OH                                               OH           OH     OH        H                                                H            OH     OH        OH                                               H            OH     OH        H                                                H            H      OH        OH                                               OH           H      OH        H                                                ______________________________________                                    

A more detailed description of these transparent dispersions, which are used for the manufacture of cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical compositions, has been given above.

In order to make the subject of the invention better understood, several embodiments will now be described by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting examples.

In the examples given below, the dispersions were prepared in the following way:

1.5 g of lipid phase having the composition given in Table II below are introduced into a 100 ml round-bottomed flask and solubilization is carried out in the solvent shown in the said table. The solvent is then evaporated at 40° C. through successive stages from ambient pressure to approximately 500 Pa using a rotary evaporator.

28.5 g of a 0.02% by weight sodium azide (NaN₃) solution in water are added to the lipid phase film obtained during the time and at the temperature given in Table II below.

The mixture obtained is agitated using an oscillating arm shaker marketed by the company "Prolabo" under the name "Oscill 12".

The dispersion obtained, brought to a temperature of 30° C., is then treated for 2 min using an ultrasound homogenizer marketed by the company "Branson Sonic Power Co" under the name "Sonifier B 30" with the following setting:

working cycle: 50%

power setting: position 5.

The following measures were carried out on the dispersion obtained:

particle size, with the apparatus marketed by the company "Coulter Electronics" under the name "Coulter N4", which operates on the quasi-elastic light scattering principle. The particle size of the vesicles is characterized by a mean diameter (d) in nanometers and a size polydispersity factor (Q). These two parameters are calculated by the method of cumulants. The measurements are carried out on dilutions containing approximately 0.3% by weight of vesicle dispersion.

The optical density of the dispersions, using a UV/visible spectrophotometer marketed by the company "Beckman" under the name "U.V. 5230", the measurement being carried out at 450 nm in a cell with a thickness of 0.2 cm after dilution of the dispersion to a quarter using a 0.02% by weight solution of sodium azide in water. The lower the optical density OD₄₅₀ obtained, the greater the transparency of the dispersion.

Comparative tests were carried out in the absence of compound of formula (I) in the lipid phase and in the presence of 1,2-hexadecanediol, which is an unbranched polyol having the same chain length as the compounds of formula (I).

The results are given in Table II below:

                                      TABLE II                                     __________________________________________________________________________                           Preparation conditions                                                         Solvent used                                                                   in lipid                                                 Example               phase   Agitation of                                                                              Polydispersity                        No.  Composition of the lipid phase                                                                  preparation                                                                            the mixture                                                                           d(nm)                                                                              Q      OD.sub.450                     __________________________________________________________________________     1*   lipid 1     0.825 g                                                                             6.7 ml of di-                                                                          2 hours at                                                                            174 0.21   0.70                                cholesterol 0.600 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          45° C.                                         DCP         0.075 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                                  methanol                                                 2    lipid 1     0.825 g                                                                             8.4 ml of di-                                                                          2 hours at                                                                            168 0.15   0.24                                cholesterol 0.300 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          45° C.                                         phytanetriol                                                                               0.300 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                 DCP         0.075 g                                                                             methanol                                                 3*   lipid 1     0.825 g                                                                             6.7 ml of di-                                                                          2 hours at                                                                            155 0.22   0.40                                cholesterol 0.300 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          45° C.                                         1,2-hexadecanediol                                                                         0.300 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                 DCP         0.075 g                                                                             methanol                                                 4*   lipid 2     0.825 g                                                                             6.7 ml of                                                                              2 hours at                                                                            178 0.35   0.67                                cholesterol 0.600 g                                                                             chloroform                                                                             70° C.                                         DCP         0.075 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                                  methanol                                                 5    lipid 2     0.825 g                                                                             6.7 ml of                                                                              2 hours at                                                                            188 0.21   0.38                                cholesterol 0.300 g                                                                             chloroform                                                                             70° C.                                         phytanetriol                                                                               0.300 g                                                                             and 0.8 ml of                                                 DCP         0.075 g                                                                             methanol                                                 6*   lipid 2     0.825 g                                                                             6.7 ml of                                                                              2 hours at                                                                            177 0.25   0.69                                cholesterol 0.300 g                                                                             chloroform                                                                             70° C.                                         1,2-hexadecanediol                                                                         0.300 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                 DCP         0.075 g                                                                             methanol                                                 7*   lipid 3     0.825 g                                                                             6.7 ml of di-                                                                          2 hours at                                                                            129 0.26   0.10                                cholesterol 0.600 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          70° C.                                         DCP         0.075 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                                  methanol                                                 8    lipid 3     0.825 g                                                                             6.7 ml of di-                                                                          2 hours at                                                                            104 0.28   0.05                                cholesterol 0.300 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          70° C.                                         phytanetriol                                                                               0.300 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                 DCP         0.075 g                                                                             methanol                                                 9*   lipid 3     0.825 g                                                                             6.7 ml of di-                                                                          2 hours at                                                                            115 0.25   0.10                                cholesterol 0.300 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          70° C.                                         1,2-hexadecanediol                                                                         0.300 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                 DCP         0.075 g                                                                             methanol                                                 10*  lipid 4     0.713 g                                                                             6.7 ml of di-                                                                          2 hours at                                                                            165 0.31   0.68                                cholesterol 0.712 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          70° C.                                         DCP         0.075 g                                                       11   lipid 4     0.713 g                                                                             6.7 ml of di-                                                                          2 hours at                                                                            140 0.16   0.17                                cholesterol 0.277 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          70° C.                                         phytanetriol                                                                               0.435 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                 DCP         0.075 g                                                                             methanol                                                 12*  lipid 4     0.713 g                                                                             6.7 ml of di-                                                                          2 hours at                                                                            181 0.15   0.65                                cholesterol 0.277 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          70° C.                                         1,2-hexadecanediol                                                                         0.435 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                 DCP         0.075 g                                                                             methanol                                                 13   lipid 4     0.713 g                                                                             5 ml of di-                                                                            2 hours at                                                                            133 0.21   0.14                                cholesterol 0.277 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          70° C.                                         mixture (phytanetriol +                                                                    0.435 g                                                                             and 1.7 ml of                                                 phytanetetrol)   methanol                                                      DCP         0.075 g                                                       14*  lipid 1     1.050 g                                                                             10 ml of di-                                                                           2 hours at                                                                            137 0.22   0.39                                cholesterol 0.375 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          45° C.                                         DCP         0.075 g                                                                             and 2 ml of                                                                    methanol                                                 15   lipid 1     1.050 g                                                                             10 ml of di-                                                                           2 hours at                                                                            118 0.21   0.10                                phytanetriol                                                                               0.375 g                                                                             chloromethane                                                                          45° C.                                         DCP         0.075 g                                                                             and 2 ml of                                                                    methanol                                                 __________________________________________________________________________      *does not form part of the invention                                           In this table, the various constituents are the following:                     Lipid 1: lecithin marketed by the company "Lucas Meyer" under the name         "Epikuron 200                                                                  Cholesterol: marketed by the company "Prolabo                                  DCP: sodium dicetyl phosphate                                                  Lipid 2: hydrogenated lecithin marketed by the company "Quest                  International" under the name "Lecinol S 10                                    Lipid 3: nonionic amphiphilic lipid: polyoxyethylenated hexadecyl alcohol      containing an average of 20 ethylene oxide units, marketed by the company      "ICI Atlas" under the name "Brij 58                                            Lipid 4: nonionic amphiphilic lipid of formula:                                ##STR13##                                                                      where C.sub.3 H.sub.5 (OH)O is represented by the following structures         taken as a mixture or separately:                                              ##STR14##                                                                      and .sup.-n is a mean statistical value equal to 3      Mixture                (phytanetriol+phytanetetrol): approximately 1/1 by weight mixture of      phytanetriol and a tetrol consisting of the following isomers taken as a      mixture or separately:      ##STR15## 

We claim:
 1. A composition comprising, in an aqueous dispersion phase, a dispersion of lipid vesicles encapsulating an aqueous phase, said lipid vesicles comprising a lipid phase containing a compound selected from the group consisting of phytanetriol,5,9,13,17-tetramethyloctadecanoic acid, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrohexadecane and 3-hydroxymethyl-7,11,15-trimethyl-1,2,4-trihydroxyhexadecane,together with (a) an ionic amphiphilic lipid or (b) a nonionic amphiphilic lipid, or a mixture of (a) and (b).
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said compound of formula (I) represents from 5% to 90% by weight of said lipid vesicles.
 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the lipid of said vesicles is a nonionic amphiphilic lipid selected from the group consisting of(1) a linear or branched glycerol derivative having the formula ##STR16## wherein --C₃ H₅ (OH)O--, jointly or separately represents --CH₂ CHOHCH₂ O--, ##STR17## n has a mean statistical value ranging from 1 to 6, or when n represents 1 or 2 then --C₃ H₅ (OH)O-- represents --CH₂ CHOH--CH₂ O--, R₀ represents (a) an aliphatic, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated chain containing 12 to 30 carbon atoms or a lanolin alcohol hydrocarbon chain, or the residue of a long chain alphadiol, (b) R₁ CO wherein R₁ represents an aliphatic, linear or branched, radical having 11 to 29 carbon atoms, or ##STR18## wherein R₂ represents (a) or (b) defined above for R₀ and wherein --OC₂ H₃ (R₃)-- represents, jointly or separately, ##STR19## wherein R₃ represents (a) defined above for R₀ ; (2) a linear or branched polyglycerol ether having two fatty chains; (3) a diol containing a fatty chain; (4) a fatty oxyethylenated alcohol, a fatty non-oxyethylenated alcohol, an oxyethylenated phytosterol, a non-oxyethylenated phytosterol, an oxyethylenated sterol or a non-oxyethylenated sterol; (5) an oxyethylenated ether of a polyol, a non-oxyethylenated ether of a polyol, an oxyethylenated ester of a polyol or a non-oxyethylenated ester of a polyol, wherein the ethylene oxide chain is linear or cyclic; (6) a natural or synthetic glycolipid, an ether or ester of a mono- or polysaccharide or an ether or ester of glucose; (7) a hydroxyamide having the formula ##STR20## wherein R₄ represents alkyl or alkenyl having 7 to 21 carbon atoms, R₅ represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon having 7 to 31 carbon atoms, COA represents a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR21## wherein B is an alkyl radical derived from a mono- or polyhydroxylated, primary or secondary amine; and R₆ represents hydrogen or methyl, and (ii) --COOZ wherein Z represents a polyol residue having 3 to 7 carbon atoms; (8) a natural or synthetic ceramide; (9) an oxyethylenated fatty amine or a dihydroxyalkylamine; and (10) a glycerol derivative having the formula ##STR22## wherein R₇ represents linear C₁₄ -C₁₈ alkyl or a --CH₂ A group wherein A is --OR₁₄, R₁₄ representing linear C₁₀ -C₁₈ alkyl and n represents a mean statistical value greater than 1 and at most equal to 3 and when R₇ =--CH₂ A, n can also represent a true, non-statistical value equal to
 2. 4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the lipid of said vesicles is an ionic amphiphilic lipid selected from the group consisting of(1) an anionic amphiphilic lipid selected from the group consisting of a natural phospholipid, a chemically or enzymatically modified phospholipid, a synthetic phospholipid, a compound having the formula ##STR23## wherein R₈ represents alkyl or alkenyl having 7 to 21 carbon atoms, R₉ represents a saturated or unsaturated C₇ -C₃₁ hydrocarbon radical and M₁ represents H, Na, K, NH₄ or a substituted ammonium ion derived from an amine; (2) an anionic compound selected from the group consisting of a phosphoric ester of a fatty alcohol, heptylnonylbenzenesulfonic acid, cholesterol acid sulfate or an alkaline salt thereof, cholesterol acid phosphate or an alkaline salt thereof, a lysolecithin; an alkyl sulfate and a ganglioside; and (3) a cationic amphiphilic lipid selected from the group consisting of a quaternary ammonium derived compound having the formula ##STR24## wherein R₁₀ and R₁₁, each independently, represent C₁₂ -C₂₀ alkyl and R₁₂ and R₁₃, each independently, represent C₁ -C₄ alkyl; a long chain amine or a quaternary ammonium derivative thereof; and a long chain amino alcohol ester or a salt thereof or a quaternary ammonium derivative thereof.
 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said aqueous dispersion phase is selected from the group consisting of water, a mixture of water and a C₁ -C₇ alcohol, a mixture of water and a C₁ -C₅ alkyl polyol, and mixtures thereof.
 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said lipid vesicles are present in an amount ranging from 0.01 to 50 percent by weight based on the total weight of said dispersion.
 7. The composition of claim 1 where in said lipid phase said ionic amphiphilic lipid (a) or said nonionic amphiphilic lipid (b) or a mixture thereof is present in an amount ranging from 10 to 95 percent by weight relative to the total weight of said lipid phase.
 8. The composition of claim 1 where in said lipid phase said ionic amphiphilic lipid (a) or said nonionic amphiphilic lipid (b) or a mixture thereof is present in an amount ranging from 40 to 90 percent by weight relative to the total weight of said lipid phase.
 9. The composition of claim 1 wherein said lipid vesicles have a size ranging from 20 to 3000 nm.
 10. The composition of claim 1 wherein said lipid vesicles have a size ranging from 20 to 500 nm.
 11. The composition of claim 1 containing an active principle having cosmetic action, an active principle having pharmaceutic action, or a mixture thereof.
 12. The composition of claim 1 wherein said lipid phase of said lipid vesicles contains at least one cosmetically active liposoluble compound or pharmaceutically active liposoluble compound, or a mixture thereof.
 13. The composition of claim 1 wherein said aqueous phase encapsulated in said lipid vesicles contains at least one cosmetically active water-soluble compound, or a pharmaceutically active water-soluble compound, or a mixture thereof.
 14. The composition of claim 1 wherein said aqueous dispersion phase contains at least one cosmetically active water-soluble compound or a pharmaceutically active water-soluble compound, or a mixture thereof.
 15. The composition of claim 1 which includes at least one formulation additive to provide said composition in a gel or lotion form. 